Importance

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Abstract

An electronic accident estimating system has been produced by integrating commercially available electronic hardware with proprietary software developed expressly for the estimating system. Electronic images of accidented vehicles are taken by the bodyshop estimator. These images are then imported to a computer by using a color video digitizer. The images, once resident in the computer, provide the visual evidence substantiating the estimated accident damage. The bodyshop estimator fills in the accident estimate on the computer, highlighting areas on the various images as required. Once the estimate is completed, the estimate file is compressed in size and transmitted electronically to the insurance company. At the insurance company, an insurance estimator then decompresses the estimate file and begins to peruse the estimate. If further clarification is required, the insurance estimator can request more images to be taken and transmitted. Execution of repairs can also be easily audited by the insurance company by simply requesting that images be taken during the repairs at specific repair milestones (replacement of body panels, application of primer, etc.) and transmitted to their office. The system also provides on-line archiving of accident estimates.

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First Claim